LITERARY NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 88, 13 April 1912, Page 13

LITERARY NOTES.

[From the latest English, Australian, and American papers and reviews we have taken the following items.] "The Scales of Convention," a novel of Edinburgh society by Mrs. Stodart Walker, ie to be issued by Melrose. John Lane announces a new edition of " Coke of Norfolk and His Friends," with revisions and additions. "When God Laughs" Jack London entitles a volume of stories which Mills and Boon are publishing for him. Miss Alexandra Watson, who wrote that very good etory, "The Case of Letitia.," has another nearly ready with Smith, Elder, and Co. : " Denham's; or a Web of Life." Werner Laurie is publishing a romance of the time of the Mahdi, "Through Wilderness and Desert," by Mr. Henry Sienkiewicz, the author of " Quo Vadis." A. R. Colquhoun has added several chapters to his " China in Transformation/ 1 for a popular edition which the Harpers announce. Eden Phillpotts's censored drama, " The Secret Woman," is to be published at once by Duckworth; and so what may not be staged appeal's in book form. Mme. Troly-Curtin is to follow her sprightly "Phrynette In London" wmi another book, .vhich Grant Richards announces, "Phrynette Married." Sir Courtenay Alansel is publishing with John Long a poem which should interest students csf French history, " The Maaque of King Charles VI." Methuen publishes in London, and the Macmillan Company in America, "Frank Danby's" new novel, "Joseph in Jeopardy," which concerns a brilliant young athlete. 1 Chatto and Windua will shortly nave ready the "Life of Bret Harte," by Henry Childs Merwin, with "some account of the Californian pioneers." John Murray is publishing " East and West," a little volume by Earl Curzon of Kedleston, ' based on his address to the students of Glasgow University. Edward Jenks has written for Methuen "A Short History of English Law, from the Earliest Times to the End of the Year 1911." New verse by young Irish poet* is announced by Maunsel, of Dublin, thus: "The Hill of "Vision," by James Stephens; "Etian, the Beloved," by James H. Cousin* ; and ''Poems," by Seumas Q'Sullivan. Something like half a century is embraced in the recollections collected in "An- Actor's Notebook," by Frank Archer (Paul and Co.) Yet Mr. Archer by no means give* a complete account of hift theatrical career in these lively memories of the past. Fronde's ten-volume "History of Eng. land" is completed by the addition of five volumes on "Queen Elizabeth's Reign." Mr. Llewelyn Williams, M.P., in his day an exhibitioner in modern history, contributes a cogent and learned preface to this standard work. Maurice Baring, writing Tecently in hk book, "The Rueeian People," calls attention to the non-existence of any fit translation of the novels of Dostoevsky. Heinemann is issuing this year an edition of those novele, translated by Mrs. Garnettj who is already known for her translations of Tolstoy and Tnrgeney. "Margaret of France, Duchess of Savoy, 1523-1574: a Biography," by Winifred Stephens (Lane), is a life of the French Princess who married Emmanuel Philibert-, who founded the Royal House of Savoy. This book contains some interesting illustrations! The most successful book-thief on record was Count Guglielmo "Libri, for many years Inspector-General of Public Libraries in France. * Libri abstracted books and manuscripts from the libraries he visited professionally. He had long been suspected of theft, but before his guilt could be proved he had managed to accumulate £40,000 from the sale of the works stolen. In 1848 a warrant was issued for his arrest, but he escaped, and lived abroad very comfortably for another 20 years on hia stolen literature. "Goethe and' His Woman Friends," by Mary Caroline Crawford (Unwin), is a volume that professes to put forth the facts of Goethe's . relations with women who were his friends rather than "anybody's (even his!) interpretation of the facts." The author thinfes "hardly any great literary man has been abused with such malignancy as Goethe." Perhaps this conviction may indicate something of the standpoint adopted. There are various portraits and ether illustrations. E. Beresford Chancellor's new book, "The Anr^altt of the Strand," is published by Chauman and Hall. Those who know the author's chatty and agreeable volumes on the "Squares" ana the "Palaces" of London will anticipate a pleasant and instructive volume on this fruitful theme. No London street has a richer history than the Strand. Somo interesting illustrations from old prints adorn the book. A second volume of the English translation of Father Grisari'e "History of Rom© and the Popes in the Middle AgeV is nearly ready with Kegan Paul. It deals with the vicissitudes of Rome and ft» Pontiffs from the tune of Damascus down to the calamitous days of Pope Vigilius, when Totila the Goth held Rome at his mercy. The text, with the help of illustrations, explains the construction and decoration of the great Roman basilicas, and affords some idea of the beauty and grandeur of Roman art even in its decline. "Germany and the German Emperor,*' which Melroso has nearly ready, is a very intimate study of German char acter by G. H. Perris, as it has been made by German history. Although written from the standpoint of ultraLiberalism, it is a sympathetic explanation of the German people. At tho name time it is- a frank 'ndietment of the traits of character reflected 1 in the policy of the Kaiser, which help to make Germany a disturbing factor in politics. A history of the Constitution that shall be intelligible 'to anyone who knows English history was much needed. Such a book is put forth by Mr. J. Howard B. Masterman, lately Vvpfessor of History in the University of Birmingham, "A History of the British Constitution" (Macmillan and Co., 2s 6d net). This short, text-book gives a sketch of thts growth of our political institutions from early tuam to the present day. pontroveisial mat ters, though not avoided, especially iv th© latter part of the history, are handled, the author trusts, impartially, as a historian shoujd, not a»> a partisan may. A bibliography and chrvnology gi da,teg us £iy«n. ' i